Sandbox with sheet member bottom and end wall portions and groove structure therefor

ABSTRACT

A sandbox for recreational purposes has component parts which may be easily and quickly assembled by the purchaser. The components of the box include side members and a substantially flat, unitary sheet metal bottom, the end portions of which are bent in the course of the assembly operation to form the end walls of the box. the side members are provided with grooves for receiving side margins of the bottom and end wall part. Projecting lips on the side member adjacent the grooves facilitate the shaping of the bottom part to the contour of the grooves, and also serve to guide the side margins in place within the grooves during the assembly process. The side and bottom members are secured together by seat boards and by bottom brace members.

United States Patent Schwab SANDBOX WITH SHEET MEMBER BOTTOM AND ENDWALL PORTIONS AND GROOVE STRUCTURE THEREFOR Arnold H. Schwab, St. Louis,Mo.

Assignee: A. H. Schwab Co., St. Louis, Mo.

Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 Appl. No.1 343,385

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Richard c.Pinkham Assistant E.\'aminerR. T. Stouffer [57] ABSTRACT A sandbox forrecreational purposes has component parts which may be easily andquickly assembled by the purchaser. The components of the box includeside members and .a substantially flat, unitary sheet metal bottom, theend portions of which are bent in the course of the assembly operationto form the end walls of the box. the side members are provided withgrooves for receiving side margins of the bottom and end wall part.Projecting lips on the side member adjacent the grooves facilitate theshaping of the bottom part to the contour of the grooves, and also serveto guide the side margins in place within the grooves during theassembly process. The side and bottom members are secured together byseat boards and by bottom brace members.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEL HUV 2 6 I974 3,850,427 SHEET 20F 2FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to playgroundequipment and more particularly to improvements in childrens sandboxes.

Whereas childrens sandboxes that are packaged and sold in unassembled orknockdown state effect substantial savings in manufacturing and shippingcosts, they present problems for unskilled persons having the job ofassembling and fastening the component parts. With knockdown sandboxesheretofore marketed the job of assembling the unit can be difficult,time-consuming, and for the unhandy often results in an infirm box withshort service life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The sandbox of the present invention overcomesthe problems heretofore involved with assembly and results in a strong,durable, leak-proof box the side walls of which are provided withgrooves having upturned end portions, for receiving and holding a sheetmetal bottom wall. The bottom wall may be conveniently shaped to conformto the profile of the groove and then introduced therein by theprovision of a guide lip that exexceedingly sturdy, durable andleak-proof unit.

Another object is directed to obtaining economy of I shipment andstorage. This advantage is realized by the box of the present inventionwherein the components can be compactly assembled in a relatively smallpackage.

Yet another object achieved is the provision of a sandbox havingleak-proof joints that will remain so throughout its useful life.

These and other advantageous features which make for ease of assembly,strength and durability will be hereinafter described in detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of asandbox of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing a grooved portion of a sidemember; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The sandbox of the presentinvention includes a pair 5 of side members 1-1, a bottom member 2, apair of seat boards 3-3 and a pair of bottom brace-bars 4-4.

Side members ll are identical in size and shape and desirably are formedby moulding of plastic composition material. The side members have legs5 at each end which, by preference, are formed integrally with themembers. Members 1 also are provided with socket portions 6 at loweredges thereof, and lugs 7 projecting from the ends, adjacent the upperedges.

Eachside member is formed to provide a narrow groove 8 therein, whichgroove includes a'straight intermediate portion 8a that extends alongthebottom edge of the member, and upwardly curving end portions 8b thatterminate at circular recesses located adjacent the upper edge,.inwardlyfrom end lugs 7 of the side member. Groove 8 is defined by and betweenlower and upper flanges 9 and 10. As best appears in FIG. 4 the lowerflange 9 is greater in width, projecting laterally beyond the edge ofupper flange 10, thus to provide a protruding lip 9a. Also formed oneach of the side members 1 is an edge flange 11 that extends along andaround the periphery of the members 1, lower sections lla of this flangemerging with flange'9, as shown in FIG. 2. Diagonal reenforcing ribs 12provided on the inner faces of the side members increase the strengthand rigidity of that part. Member 1 is further provided with aperturedbosses 13 for the reception of bolts 14 by which uprights, indicated at15, may be secured to the side members to serve as supports for acanopy, not shown.

The bottom member 2 comprises a single rectangular piece of sheet metalthe ends of which are rolled to form the tubular end flanges 2b. Thelength of the bottom member 2 thusly formed corresponds to the developedlength of slot 8.

The seat members 3, of wood, plastic or sheet metal, rest upon the upperedge flange 11 and are secured in place by bolts or screws 16. Thebottom brace bars 4 extend transversely between the side members 1 andhave their end portions fitting snugly within the sockets 6 wherein theyare secured by screws 16.

Describing now a simple and convenient method for assembling thedescribed component parts, the brace bars 4 are inserted into thesockets 6 of one of the side members 1 and tightly secured therein bymeans of screws 16. The other side member is loosely attached to theopposite ends of the brace bars, the screws 16 at that end being drivenonly partially into ends of preformed holes in the bars 4. Accordingly,the side members may be separated sufficiently to permit the sheet metalbottom member 2 to be laid in place upon the protruding lip portions 9aof the flanges 9. Using the lip portions as guides, the bottom member,suitably bent to conform to the shape of the grooves is slid into place,first into the groove of the tightly secured side member and then intothe groove of the opposite, loosely secured side member. When thuslyinstalled in the grooves screws 16 of the loosely secured side memberare tightened to rigidly hold the parts together. Finally the seatboards 3 are applied and secured in place by means of the bolts orscrews 16.

Whereas the bottom 2 is herein described as being of sheet metal, itwill be understood that other, nonmetallic sheet-like material may alsobe employed for this member. Also, instead of rolling the ends of thebottom 2 to form integral rod-like end parts 2b, separate rods of woodor metal may be suitably attached to the bottom 2. it is also mentionedthat the protruding lip portion 9a on flange 9 may terminate short ofthe socket openings 8c so as further to facilitate assembly.

The described sandbox fulfills the objects and advantages herein setforth. Strength and rigidity are achieved by the interfitting portionsof the side members and the unitary bottom and end wall member 2, whichinterfitting relationship also precludes the leakage of sand at thejunction of these parts. The bottom braces 4 support central portions ofthe bottom 2 and the tubular extremities of the end wall portions whichare firmly seated in the socket recesses 8c assist in holding the endportions 2a in place, adding strength and rigidity to the entire unit.

I claim as my invention:

1. in a sandbox:

a. a pair of opposed side members each having a groove therein, eachgroove including a straight horizontal intermediate portion adjacent toa lower edge of the side member and upwardly extending end portionscontinuing from said intermediate portion,

b. a sheet member providing integral bottom and end wall portions, theopposite side margins of said sheet member extending into said grooves,

c. transverse members extending between said side members, and securedat their ends thereto, and

(1. said transverse members including seat boards each seat board havingsufficient extent in a substantially horizontal plane to provide a flatseat for a child, and at least one bottom brace bar in underlyingrelation to said sheet member.

2. The sandbox of claim 1 including:

e. guide lips projecting laterally from said side members adjacent thelower side of said grooves to facilitate installation of said sheetmember into said grooves during assembly of the sandbox.

3. ln a sandbox:

a. a pair of opposed side members each having a groove, each grooveincluding a straight, horizontal, intermediate portion in paralleladjacence to a lower edge of the side member, upwardly extending endportions continuing from the intermediate portion, and socket recessesat the extremities of each groove, each side member further having alaterally projecting guide lip that extends along a marginal edge of thegroove therein,

b. a sheet metal member providing integral bottom and end wall portions,said sheet metal member having tubular flanges on each end wall portion,the side edges of said sheet member and end portions of the tubularflanges being confined respectively within said grooves and socketrecess of the side members,

c. a pair of seat boards extending transversely between upper edgeportions of said side members each seat board having sufficient extentin a substantially horizontal plane to provide a flat seat for a child,

d. a pair of bottom brace bars extending transversely between lower edgeportions of said side members, and

e. means fastening the ends of said seat boards and brace bars to saidside members.

1. In a sandbox: a. a pair of opposed side members each having a groovetherein, each groove including a straight horizontal intermediateportion adjacent to a lower edge of the side member and upwardlyextending end portions continuing from said intermediate portion, b. asheet member providing integral bottom and end wall portions, theopposite side margins of said sheet member extending into said grooves,c. transverse members extending between said side members, and securedat their ends thereto, and d. said transverse members including seatboards each seat board having sufficient extent in a substantiallyhorizontal plane to provide a flat seat for a child, and at least onebottom brace bar in underlying relation to said sheet member.
 2. Thesandbox of claim 1 including: e. guide lips projecting laterally fromsaid side members adjacent the lower side of said grooves to facilitateinstallation of said sheet member into said grooves during assembly ofthe sandbox.
 3. In a sandbox: a. a pair of opposed side members eachhaving a groove, each groove including a straight, horizontal,intermediate portion in parallel adjacence to a lower edge of the sidemember, upwardly extending end portions continuing from the intermediateportion, and socket recesses at the extremities of each groove, eachside member further having a laterally projecting guide lip that extendsalong a marginal edge of the groove therein, b. a sheet metal memberproviding integral bottom and end wall portions, said sheet metal memberhaving tubular flanges on each end wall portion, the side edges of saidsheet member and end portions of the tubular flanges being confinedrespectively within said grooves and socket recess of the side members,c. a pair of seat boards extending transversely between upper edgeportions of said side members each seat board having sufficient extentin a substantially horizontal plane to provide a flat seat for a child,d. a pair of bottom brace bars extending transversely between lower edgeportions of said side members, and e. means fastening the ends of saidseat boards and brace bars to said side members.